Monday, May 28, 2007

God Bless America and you stay in your seat

Before September 11, 2001, the song "God Bless America" was played in Yankee Stadium only on holidays. But since mid-October of 2001, it has been played before the bottom of the seventh inning at every game. It seems like that would be punishment enough, but George Steinbrenner has taken the punishment a step further: While the song is being played, fans are not allowed to leave their seats.

12 Comments:

There have always been (and unfortunately always will be) mouth-breathing idiots who believe their expression of "freedom," "holiness," or "goodness" is the true and correct way and everyone else must do as they do.

Steinbrenner is no more respectful of our founding traditions than Osama bin Laden or Saddam Hussein, because he doesn't understand them. Enforced reverence is reverence for appearance's sake and nothing more.

Unless it was stated clearly before purchasing tickets (so that I could refuse to purchase if I didn't agree), I would not stand still in the 7th. I would use the opportunity to go to the bathroom, walk around, scratch myself (kidding!) or whatever else I normally do at a ballgame.

If the chain is in the way, then I'll hop over it (I'm tall enough). If the police want to block the aisle, then I'll politely ask them to move; if they don't then I'll have to either gently push through (and therefore get arrested) or find a way to skirt around them. Hey, freedom isn't free.

Either way, this nonsense will end when someone is injured or killed in the name of "Patriotism." What if an expectant mother who has to make an emergency trip to the bathroom, or a borderline diabetic who needs to get some sugar in his bloodstream can't get to where they need to go because we're practicing our 5 minutes of hate, er patriotism?